the girls are fighting!

it's the 2024 end-of-year draft

Hi, happy Tuesday!

Inspired by the podcast, “Every Single Album,” I wanted to do an end-of-year song draft. The goal of this was to draft a team of the best, strongest, most-representative-of-the-year songs into one mix. I asked friend of the pod, Rae, to do this with me as we have similar (but not the exact same!) taste in music. Also, we just love to yap about this kind of thing.

The rules were simple: any song released in calendar year 2024 was eligible for the draft. Rae and I went back and forth drafting ten songs for our mixes.

As I assumed they might, our lists leaned heavily into the pop girls. As I hoped they might, things got heated! I wanted some competition and definitely got it!

We would loveeee if you’d weigh in and let us know who “won” the draft. Please see our full lists of picks and vote in the poll below.

Below that, you’ll find a (highly) edited version of the conversation we had while making our picks. No amount of transcribing can accurately express how high emotions were (and, unfortunately, the quality of the voice memo is terrible so it is not worth sharing).

With that, here are the results!

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2024 End-of-Year Draft Mixes

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2024 End-of-Year Draft Discussion

Hannah: So, we are here to draft the year-end best. The caveat I’ll give is that some of these are not my favorite songs of the year, but they are more like overarching best.

Rae: Ok, so the way I was thinking about it, mine is me-flavored, but representative thrown in. I didn’t just want to be like, “I’m picking the very best songs,” it’s more “me.”

H: Since we set very loose parameters, I had a moment today where I was like, if we wanted to be more competitive, I could’ve said, “here’s Pitchfork’s Best 100 Songs and we have to draft from that.” But then we would’ve just been really competitive about the top 10 or 20 songs.

R: We do have such a similar taste, that I do think we’ll be fighting over some songs.

H: MHMMM!

R: But I think there will also be differences where we get to be like, “oh, ok, wouldn’t have put that in mine.” But that makes it more interesting.

H: These lists are meant to be the “best” of the year. So, it is probably going to lean heavily pop, but I have a couple of non-exclusively pop things in here. Alright. Are we ready?

R: Yeahhh, I’m scared!

H: [contemplatively scrolling through options] Ok, my first pick in the 2024 draft is “Good Luck, Babe!”

R: Ok!

H: Oooo! That’s not competitive?! Was that not in your top?

R: Perhaps not.

H: Well, that was my pick because, to be clear, I made no other Chappell Roan eligible.¹

R: That is in my list, but not the top.

H: Wow, ok, well I didn’t totally upset things. So, you’re gonna get your number one choice after all.

R: But I’m not actually sure what I want to do as my number one…

H: I think there will be a little bit of strategy here at some point. If you think I’m going to take a song from you, you need to pick it now.

R: I’m trying to decide between two very similar songs. I think though, that I am going to do “365.”

H: I like that! That’s on my list, but not in my ultimate top. I like that choice.

R: I was thinking “360” or “365,” but “365” feels more - because she remixes her own song - feels more representative of the whole year. You know what I mean? We got “360,” then she gave us “365.”

H: Yes, ok! [thinking, thinking] I’m trying to decide - obviously I’m going to have Charli on this playlist, possibly even more than once, because she’s that important. [chuckles, mildly drunk on power] I’m trying to decide if I want to just take this now - not a Charli song - just so that I have it.

R: [nervous] Ok…

H: “Diet Pepsi.”

R: STOPPPPPPPPP!

[Hannah cackles, truly drunk on power now]

R: NOOOOOOOO!²

H: YOU SHOULD’VE TAKEN IT! You had the chance!

R: I did, but I genuinely. [speechless] I genuinely did not think you were going to take it.

H: Nope, I’m being mean, I’m taking “Diet Pepsi.”

R: Oh. Damn. That… actually ruins everything for me. [laughs] Oh my godddd, Hannah! Let the record show, that I requested it on my birthday by holding up my phone to the DJ and he played it.

H: He did!

R: So, I got that, ok? [groans] Well, fuck.

H: Ok, good, ok, good, we got at least one competitive moment out of this.

R: UGHHHHHHHHHH. That was pretty much the only one I said, “I have to get that in there right now,” which then I did not do. So, that was cool of me.

H: Sorry.

R: I think, I will do - that means I’m going to pick “girl so confusing remix.”

H: Ok. That’s fine.

R: Cuz I want that.

H: No, take it if you want it.

[both laugh]

R: Ay ay ay.

H: Ok, I think that’s a good choice. Now, I’m trying to decide if I want to take the regular version of this or the remixed version. I’m like, gun to my head, which of these I would save, I would obviously save “360” with Robyn in it, so I’m going to take “360 remix.”

R: Ok, I felt like you were gonna put that on there. That’s true to you.

H: I just can’t leave Robyn hanging. So, there’s my Charli. Alright, your turn. Are you branching out? More Charli?

[both laugh]

H: It would honestly be really funny if your entire draft…

R: So, for this one! You guys are never gonna guess… [laughs] No, let’s see. I did not anticipate this being so hard! I am going to do “Espresso.”

H: Dammit, that was my next pick.

R: Yeah, of course it was. That’s why I took it.

H: Good choice. Ugh, yeah, that was definitely my next pick. So, I feel like I need to take some Sabrina now just in case. [lots of thinking sounds] I’ll take “Taste.”

R: That was the other Sabrina that was on my list.

H: I’m taking “Taste.”

R: I’m so fucking mad about “Diet Pepsi.”

H: I’m so sorry! You had the CHANCE!

R: I’m gonna be real, I didn't realize it was that cutthroat. I didn’t realize it was that crazy, cutthroat, drama…

H: You come into my house and think I’m not about to throw down?!

[both laugh]

R: I’m eyeing a few, let me narrow it down. I think I will do “yes, and?”

H: Ok! That’s not the Ariana I have chosen, so I will let you have that.

R: I chose that, obviously cuz it was really popular this year, but also the drama of it makes it very special to me. And then it kind of links in with the Wicked of it all.

H: [sighs] I don’t understand why she put out this album if she was going to sort of immediately embargo her pop career for two years of the Wicked press tour?

[discussion devolves into speculation about Ariana Grande’s career plans and the fact that this is a good album that got neglected]

H: Alright, so you just took Ariana. I’m going to take “Nasty” by Tinashe.

R: I’m gonna be honest with you, I didn’t even put that in my draft and now I'm like, that’s a huge oversight.

H: I love Tinashe so much, I’m glad she’s getting another moment. It’s a little too bad she’s not getting as big of a moment as Charli.

R: And she’s been doing it forever.

H: She has. Did you know that she and Hayley Kiyoko were in a girl group?!

[discussion of said girl group called, The Stunners, and losing it over the fact that they have a song on Spotify called, “Santa Bring My Soldier Home”]

R: So, I’m making my fifth choice. I am going to chose “LUNCH.”

H: Ahhh dang it, shoot [both laugh] that was actually -

R: Got ‘em!

H: You got me! Ugh, good choice.

[discussion of this also being a good album that got a little lost]

H: My sixth choice. Hmm. Ok, well you took “LUNCH.” [contemplating] This is all going to end up being pop after all. [lots more contemplating] Ok, I will take “Illusion” by Dua.

[audible upset from Rae]

H: Ooo, really?!

R: Mhmm.

H: AHH! YAY! Ok! [relieved this is proving to be a competitive activity] Wow. So, this was another album that - god bless, Charli, but she really did overhaul my entire year of listening.

R: [sarcastically] Ugh, yeah well, that was a good pick.

H: We’re having more competition than I thought we would!

R: I kinda saw it going this way. I really did. Cuz I knew we were gonna focus so much on pop girlies. [thinking] This is my sixth pick. Ok I don’t think I’m competing with you for this, but I do want it and I learned the hard way. “Best of All Time” by Camila Cabello.

H: You are absolutely not competing with me [both laugh] but yes, you may take that. I was hoping you’d pull Camila on this.

R: This is the one with the Pitbull sample. It’s just a great song, and we know I’m an apologist for that album.

H: I didn’t hate it!

R: I know you didn’t, a lot of people did though. And I really think that we’re gonna look back on that album and be like, “you know, it’s better than we gave it credit for.”

H: Sure.

R: It’s on the record, so when it happens….

H: You heard it right here. Hmm hmm hmm. I guess, other end of that coin, I’m gonna do “Candy Paint,” Normani. My favorite of the former Fifth Harmony member albums of this year. I guess I could’ve waited, cuz I didn’t think we’d be competing on that.

R: I like that we had our Fifth Harmony picks back to back. That's fun. I think… hmm. Ya know what, I’m gonna do “BODYGUARD.”

[beat of silence]

H: DAMMIT. DAMMIT.

[Rae’s turn to laugh, drunk on power]

H: Noooooo.

R: I triumph!

H: Oh, no, mistake! Mistake! UGH SHOOT.

R: Ya know, tit for tat.

H: Ok, fine. Fine! You learned your lesson, I learned mine. Ugh, well, I do want Cowboy Carter on this, so I’m gonna do “II MOST WANTED.” [still having a moment] Dammit, “BODYGUARD” was coming neeeeext. Ugh.

R: Ok, so eighth pick. I’m going to take this cuz I want it on my playlist. This is where our girl, Gracie Abrams, comes in with “That’s So True.”

H: Ok. Yep, you can have that.

R: I knew I would not have trouble with that one.

H: I do have her on my long list, but it’s not that. And I don’t think she’s gonna end up making it. [thinking] This is my ninth pick.

R: Down to the wire, baby.

H: I’m gonna do, “we can’t be friends.”

R: That was my other Ariana. [thinking, thinking] Second to last choice. “Diet Pepsi” is just staring at me.

H: [laughs] I am SO sorry!

R: I should've snatched it when I had the chance!

H: And I should’ve snatched “BODYGUARD.”

[both laugh]

R: Ok, gotta lock in. Cuz now I’m trying to differentiate between what would just barely not make it and what is going to make it.

H: I feel a little bit crazy having picked Normani knowing that the are two pretty major girlies left and I’m going to leave one of them off the list. Not that Normani’s not major but…

R: I know what you’re saying, but I also think that gives some depth to your playlist. I promise I’m not offering that as a cope, I genuinely think that.

[Hannah laughs]

R: I mean, shit. [thinking, thinking] I have two Charli and that’s enough. So sorry, Charli. This is so hard! I don’t know why this is so hard! Can I see my list? [scrolls through mix on Hannah’s laptop, laughs to self] Ok, who ever picked these must be cool! [thinking, thinking] I’m gonna be honest here. What I’m battling with is- do I be more representative? Or do I be more “me?” [thinking] I think I’m gonna do something that may shock you.

H: Ok.

R: And I’m not sure I’m competing with you for this one, but I’m gonna put “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” on there.

H: No, that’s a good call. That is representative of the year.

R: I think it is, and I think this was the year where I can verifiably call myself a Swiftie. You know?

H: Yeah, I think that’s a really good choice! [quietly pleased to watch yet another skeptic admit to being a Swiftie] Ok, wow. [realizing this is her last choice] I think to that point, I need to have Taylor because she is so representative of the year, but that means I’m going to leave off Billie who also feels representative of the year. And then there’s like- HA- do either of us have a single man?

R: Oh, girl, no.

[both laugh, sorry not sorry to these men]

H: I do have some men on my long list, but I don't revisit those songs, so I think I'd be insane not to have Taylor on here. [thinking, thinking] If we’re going representative of the year, I will do “But Daddy I Love Him” as my last choice. AHH, oh my god!

R: Oh my god!!

H: So that's my tenth, what’s your tenth?!

R: This we’re not competing for…

H: We’re done competing!

R: But I have to have this on my list, “Angel of My Dreams.”

H: That’s on my long list!

R: I had it on my longer list, but the more I thought about it, I was like, “I LOVE that song.” Who is doing it like Jade right now?

H: No one!

[Hannah reads off both of their final lists]

H: These are very good playlists!

[the two continue to congratulate themselves for these mixes]

R: I appreciate that even though we didn’t set the parameter of pop girls, that’s what we did.

H: Some of the things I put on my long list that were year representative that I toyed with were “Not Like Us” by Kendrick and “A Bar Song” by Shaboozey. “Birds of a Feather!”

R: I'm surprised that neither of us put that now that I’m thinking about it.

H: If I had one more choice, I’d pick that. Some of my wild cards choices: I was gonna do “Yeah x10” from the Challengers score.

[both laugh]

R: Do you understand? If you had - I don’t have that on my long list - but if you had said that, I would’ve gotten up and left. [laughing] I would’ve been like, “fuck you. I didn’t know I needed that, but I do.”

H: Some others: “Joyride,” Kesha; “Mamushi,” Megan Thee Stallion; “Close to You,” Gracie Abrams; “The Kill,” Maggie Rogers. I did very seriously consider putting Maggie on this list.

R: Yeah, me too.

H: I had some smaller things on here too: a Waxahatchee song, a Rachel Chinouriri song, a Remi Wolf song. If I was gonna get crazy.

R: Well, your long list kinda looks a lot like mine.

H: Of course it does!

R: “Houdini” was my other Dua pick. I had “Image” by Magdalena Bay because I feel like they had a big year. “Lonely Is The Muse,” by Halsey. I had “No Comma” by Slayyyter. I had “Heat” by Tove Lo and SG Lewis. I think if we had an eleventh pick, that would’ve been mine.

[a little more discussion of where we overlapped, etc. etc.!]

R: I am very happy with my playlist!

H: I think these are both good playlists, I don't think any one is the clearly BETTER playlist… unless having “Diet Pepsi” makes it better…

[both laugh]

R: Well, we’ll let the people decide!

H: Well, cool, that was so fun! And ended up being better than I thought because we did have some “the girls were fighting” moments.

R: Off the bat! The girls were about to tussle.

H: You. Had. The. Chance!!

[scene!]

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If you made it this far, THANK YOU! Hope you enjoyed! Next week will be the final Made You a Mix of the year - a roundup of my favorite music of 2024 including all the pop girls from above as well as plenty of other artists and genres.

Thank you for being here, for reading, and for listening! If you like this week’s mix, please click the “heart” button at the top or bottom of this post - likes help this newsletter be seen by more people!

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